Am I the Only One Who Views the Execution of Saddam Hussein as Wrong?!

Before you fire off that nasty comment or email to me, please indulge yourself and me by reading the full article.

I am American as anyone is! I was born and raised in the USA. To be honest I have never traveled off North America. I am of Christian up-bringing with spirtuality thrown in. Adopted from my numerous visits and studies informally to-and-of other religions/faiths for a better comprehension of my own faith. Giving you some background hopefully helps you understand my perspective on this topic.

To admit that Saddam Hussein has committed atrocities to mankind is a platitude. Yes, in other words stating the very obvious! He is scum of the earth who murdered to protect what was "his" whether it was or not! He has been tried and convicted of murder in it's highest form. He was sentenced to death, to be hung by the neck until he is no longer alive. The high court upheld the verdict and sentence. End of story, he was hung!

But this is where I have a problem. He killed so lets kill him! When and where does the killing stop?

Don't most if not all religious beliefs eschew killing in any form? Doesn't God-Jesus-Allah-Buddha-Vishnu-etc, whatever his/her name is, teach us to believe in life and loving one another? Aren't we supposed to love one another and treat each as we would be treated? Does that involve an eye for an eye mentality also? Capital punishment is also murder!

There are better ways of making someone pay for their crimes and sins against humanity. I am not sure that prison is always the best method either. Yes, there are plenty of criminals who need and must be locked up never to be seen or heard from ever again! For sure, Saddam Hussein is one - but was death really the answer in this case?
I am not suggesting we should have let him out to begin anew his crimes either. But there must be another way!

We teach our children as they grow up to share, love one another and to be good people which means fearing [insert higher deities name here] also. I will use God for this purpose. To perpetuate what we have been instilled with from day one. At least that is the focus, hopes and dreams of everyone I have ever run into. Purposely or not. Circumstances sometimes prevent this from happening perfectly in day to day life but the basic philosophy is still there. Love one another, share and do what is right and not what is wrong.

Somewhere along the line we lost the fear of God to help us achieve these basic priniciples. To fear God is to love him and to perpetuate the teachings. And one of them is thou shalt not kill!

Now I don't know about you but I whole-heartledly believe and live this one to the fullest. Plenty will say I am an extremist and/or a pansy because it bothers me to kill even pesky insects. They are a living creature created just like us [humans] and have their place on the food chain as well. It is not for me to decide whether they deserve to live on the planet or not. Is it his, hers or yours to decide - who knows?

History has recorded plenty of unnecessary violence and killing because of ongoing hate, prejudice, greed, ignorance and mental illness. Some generic examples might be generation after generation of family feud's because of ignorance; two world wars not to mention every other war we've fought; inner-city gangs, drive-by shootings and loss of the family unit due to poor inter-racial relations, drugs and poverty; serial murderers who look like and are your neighbor and that's just in this one country. Now think about the entire world.

We are ineffectually killing ourselves! What happened to love thy neighbor?

When will humans stop the killing? Necessary or not! Whether it is for past crimes of a dictator, bombing abortion clinics, the GI fighting to free Iraq, the Russian ex-patriot assasinated for his opinions and knowledge, the African-Latino-Asian-White-American gang member slinging dope on the street, the 5-39-58th time serial murderer -- it is all senseless mind-bending murder.

Where did we stop loving one another and sharing? When did greed and/or ignorance become more important that our fellow brothers and sisters are just a path to walk by or over while we judge, comment or pity them instead of helping one another? Why are we so hysterical anymore that killing is a belief or perceived answer to all our problems?

I can't honestly say if killing one human being or creature has truly solved an earth shattering problem yet. But it sure makes for good media, gross national product statistics and keeps a lot of folks secure at home and work every day of the year.

How sad but pathetically true!

Instead of finding another way to kill someone or something humanely, which isn't working by the way, we re-invent the wheel per se. A few mildly humorous ways I have thought of....

From this day forward No More:

I am entitled to...or This is mine -That is mine greedy bovine manure (BS). Everyone is equal given the same rights and opportunities as (key word here) citizens. Whether born or naturalized thru legal measures. What you do with your opportunity is up to you to succeed and help - not hurt others in less fortunate situations including corporate thievery.

Killing for a belief or opinion. If you have a belief or opinion rejoice in it, voice it, share it - do not fight, maim, brainwash or kill if it is not shared by others. Go on believing, find another way to share it or be heard and live life as happily as one can. There are no guarantees that you will be happy or problem free even with tons of cash, but it helps with the necessities. You are now obligated: Never forget where you came from - how you got a start and lend a hand to others that need it. But do it with as much conviction and sincerity as you would to voice your opinion or fight for a belief.

Your education is guaranteed. Instead of paying so much for a higher education and leaving many out. Why not start a system where you are required to get a college degree but instead of four years you must attend six in essence. Three years is spent in college learning and obtaining your degree. The next three years you work at the best job in your chosen field giving half your income to pay back your three years tuition and for the next to attend. You are still living a college student lifestyle for the obligation period but earning much more. This way everyone who wants to succeed does it properly and can/will, once their obligation is repaid. If you choose to go onto higher learning for specialities - you assume the role again ie doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.

If you refuse or have some impediment to achieve a degree you will now have special circumstances. By refusing you will be branded a criminal and face punishment. See note below regarding less serious offenders and circumstancial punishment. Those with a bona-fide impediment to learning at the college level would face no changes unless their situation changes. A disability is frankly disabling but not always and forever. There are plenty of stories everyday in modern society of those that face obstacles and bypass them because they refuse to give in or give up. They alternate methods or adapt new ones to continue on.

No more war and killing globally. Instead of wars our respective heads of state must find common ground to "duke it out". Used as a metaphor and not til the death either. We aren't Romans in the Coliseum for gosh sakes! How about a best 5 out of 7 thumb or leg wrestling contest or rock-em sock-em robots until blisters form? No more senseless death to soldiers, insurrgents, innocents anywhere. Yeah, I didn't think you would buy that one but hey it is funny to picture!

Circumstantial punishment. Instead of locking less serious offenders down as inmates 24 hours per day, which also isn't working, we give them the dirtiest jobs known to man. Work 14 - 15 hours of the day with minimal allowed supervised breaks, then send them back to their cells to shower, eat and sleep each night for the duration of their sentence. Inmates do not receive their wages but it is paid directly into the fund that supervises, feeds, clothes, transports and houses them. If anything is left over, for the higher achievers, it gets paid to the victims or families of victims. I doubt many would re-offend after cleaning septic tanks, making hog food, or a variety of other truly nasty jobs that must be done to survive and thrive. Could you imagine fifteen hours a day, seven days a week for five years? Me either. At least the folks that survive doing those jobs now would be happier in college or at a well-paying job doing something cleaner and less odiferous (smelly).

As for the most violent offenders the repeat habitual criminals...well what can I suggest that hasn't already and still isn't working. No clue here either. Put them in a barrel, seal it and drive in the bung? Well c'mon be serious, if we weed out alot of the offenders who really aren't hardened career criminals that leaves less to keep locked up without daylight. Perhaps by making things more equal and providing education and opportunity on a fair, honest and reasonable basis less would be willing to become serious criminals or at least re-offend more than once. My logic says so, but then again who am I?

Regarding prejudiced and perpetuating hate-mongers - you are free to move about the world the last time I checked. Although there are restrictions wherever you go and peopled with different races, religions, creeds, colors, beliefs, laws, you name it. So if you think that your [name your complaint here] is under-represented or discriminated against and cannot find a better way to express yourself, then do what ancestors did and move. Find the place that is best for you, find peace whether it be for the church you attend, the lifestyle you live or want to live, for the political belief you have, the color of your skin, the shape of your eyes and on and on.

Find it without harming or kililng anyone else!